Housekeeper stole princess's jewels, court told

A housekeeper stole jewellery including a custom sapphire and diamond ring from the Belgravia home of a Jordanian princess before some of the items were auctioned for thousands of pounds, a court has heard.

Maria Virgelina Taborda Henao, 71, denies stealing various items of jewellery, including a wedding ring, from her former employer Princess Firyal Irshaid.

Taborda Henao is accused of taking the items from the princess's home in central London, on or before 26 November 2020, Southwark Crown Court was told.

Prosecution barrister Oliver Wellings said some of the items allegedly stolen were sold at auctions by the defendant's nephew, whom he said acted as a "key conduit" for their sale.

The court heard the princess left London in March 2020 during the Covid-19 pandemic and Taborda Henao, who had been the princess's housekeeper for 11 years prior to the alleged thefts, remained to look after her Belgravia house.

Jurors were told Taborda Henao was the only person who had permission to access the princess's belongings in her absence.

On 21 November 2020, Princess Firyal received a phone call from a partner at high-end jeweller JAR, informing her that two pieces of jewellery were being sold at an auction in England.

The princess realised that a "unique" JAR sapphire and diamond ring, made especially for her, was being sold by Canterbury Auction Galleries, the prosecution said.

Further items of her jewellery for sale were identified, and some that had been sold by the auction house since June 2020.

The princess phoned the police who arrested Taborda Henao and searched her house.

Officers found the princess's wedding ring in a coat, a jewelled metal necklace in a kitchen cupboard, and an envelope containing earrings.

Wellings said the princess thought she had lost her wedding ring "some time ago", and that "she would never have given away such an important personal item".

The court heard Julian Ramirez, Taborda Henao's nephew, first attended Canterbury Auction Galleries in March 2019 for a valuation day. He allegedly visited the auction house again in 2020, where items he brought were listed for auction.

Wellings said Ramirez received about £90,000 in revenue from Canterbury Auction Galleries.

He transferred £17,835 to his aunt Taborda Henao between 23 June 2019 and 28 November 2020, the court heard.

The court was told the princess returned to London in May 2021 and "found much of her jewellery missing".

Wellings said: "The only items which remained in her home were pieces of costume jewellery."

Jurors heard the princess provided evidence showing she owned jewellery sold by Canterbury Auction Galleries, including receipts and pictures of her wearing the items.

This included a "unique" pair of enamel and gem-set earrings bought for £28,750 from Sotheby's in 2011, and sold for £400 in Canterbury in 2020.

Wellings said the princess provided a "lengthy" list of the missing jewellery, adding: "The items which appeared in the Canterbury auction represent a small selection of the total items missing."

Ramirez had been arrested at an address in Rochester, Kent, on the same day as his aunt, before being released on bail.

The court heard he was believed to have flown to Colombia in October 2023 and had not returned.

Taborda Henao, of Hammersmith and Fulham, west London, denied theft by an employee.

The trial continues.

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